Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My husband and I saw "My Cousin Rachel" yesterday and both really enjoyed it.  I was a big fan of Daphne Du Maurier as a teen, and for a long time "Rebecca" was my favorite film.  It makes sense for someone who's favorite book is Jane Eyre.  I like the subtlety of what is going on in the book and film, and that the viewer has to figure out for herself what is happening.  In the process, you see impulsive behavior and words that hurt as much as a knife wound.  Both Rachel and Ashley don't see the other's point of view well enough to understand each other.  That kind of harming is all too familiar to any of us watching:  dismissive remarks and harsh quick judgments.  This film could truly be seen as a cautionary tale of wrong speech, and insular worlds that don't begin or try to comprehend the other.  Tragedy is inevitable, yet so easily might have been avoided if either had paused and reflected before speaking.